[Koufax32fan]

I am also a Koufax collector (and to a much lesser extent, Ernie Banks, Billy Williams and Ron Santo). Once I had most of the cards (I am still holding out on buying the 58 Bell Brand card, and I think I might be missing 1 or 2 of the Venezuela cards), I started branching out into other things. I have tried to get a copy of every magazine that his picture on the cover from his playing time; as a plus, they have some great articles and the ads make me laugh - for less than a buck, you could bulk up in case that bully kicks sand in your face while you are at the beach, or you could buy lifts for you shoes that make you 2 inches taller. I then started on ticket stubs and programs/scorecards from games in which he pitched. The thing about those is that I know with almost certainty that I will never finish them. It is truly about the journey and not the finish line with those. I also have copies of all of the books about him, caches, wire photos, items from his Tropicana Motel, pins, cups, penknife, mug, bobble head, etc. The nice thing about collecting a player like Koufax (or Aaron or Clemente or Mantle or Mays) is that there will always be items that you can find, even if just new cards and inserts, and that can fit most budgets. I have been at it for many years and I still find things I have never seen a few times a year (this year, for example, I bought a full back from a box of Post Toasties Corn Flakes with Koufax and others on the back and in just the last couple of weeks I bought programs from a game in San Francisco in 1961 and one from a gain in NY from 1966).

My only suggestion is to enjoy what you collect. Ok, I lied, my other suggestion is to take your time and enjoy what you collect. While there may be a few things that you will not see again for a while, there will always be Topps and Bowman cards to buy in whatever condition you want. If you happen to see a ticket stub from Koufax' first game please let me know.